Piano attachment.



PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

' W. W. SAUNDBRS.

PIANO ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1902.

z SHEETs--SEBBT 1..

N0 MODEL.

fus News co., imm

No. 726,354. PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

l W. W. SAUNDERS.

PIANO ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR.. 28, 1902.

VN0 MODEL. y V SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

ilrirrnti STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

1WILLIAM WEBSTER SAUNDERS, OF lVASl-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VILLIAM R. GRANGER, OF IVASHINGTON,

DISTRICT O F COLUMBIA.

PIANOATTACHMENT.

SPECFCATXON forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,354, dated April 28, 1903.

Application tiled April 28. 1902. Serial No. 105,019. (No model.) i

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAMv WEBSTER SAUNDERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Piano Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

'This invention relates to an automatic playing attachment for pianos or other musical m instruments of similar character.

Piano attachments of the class to which my invention belongs are characterized by a series of hammers arranged to operate the keys of the instrument and controlled by a perforated music-sheet. The openings in the sheet are brought into coincidence with projections on the hammers by the movement of the sheet, and thus permit the depression of the hammers in the order determined by the loca- 2o tion of the perforations. Those attachments of this general class with which I am familiar involve comparatively complicated constructions, rendering them expensive and more or less liable to derangement.

The primary object of my invention, therefore, is to produce an automatic piano attachment of exceedingly simple and inexpensive construction which may be operated by a person entirely unskilled in music or, in

3o fact, by a mechanical motor, if desired, and which in the event of derangement may be quickly repaired without skilled assistance.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for regulating the touch uponthe keys to obtain the desired expression in imi.`

tation of the expression secured by a skilled musician. i

Other objects of the inventionand variousl novel features of construction will appear' 4o during the succeeding description of the illustrated form of the device.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a portion of a piano,

showing my attachment applied as in use,

with thefront wall or board of its cabinet or casing removed. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the attachment complete, the relative position of the piano-keyboard being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the 5o upper part of the attachment and of the adjacent portion ot the piano on a somewhatenlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the device partly broken away and with the hammer board or carrier swung back. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the guides for the 55 music-sheet, the bearings for the drums, and the openings or sockets for the reception of the hammer-fingers. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the hammers; and Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a pairof ham- 6o mers, one of which is depressed.

Like numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. y

The piano to which the attachment is shown 'applied is indicated by the numeral l. The

attachment proper comprises a cabinet or casing 2, mounted to roll on casters 3, and comprising a table 1t, end walls 5and front and back Walls or panels G and 7. The table 7o or support 4 is horizontally disposed in a plane above the keyboard of the piano and projects slightly beyond the wall 6.

Above the table 4 is hinged, as indicated at S, a hammer boardor carrier 9, normally spaced above the table and capable of being thrown 'back tothe position shown in Fig. 1i.

"The board or carrier`9 is designed for the `support of .the ham mers lO, corresponding in 'number to the piano-keys intended to be op- 8o -Yerated---ordinarily ufive octaves.4 The hammers are designed to be operated by their inherent resiliency instead ot auxiliary operating devices. They are theretore constructed of spring metal, each being 'in the;form ot' a strip comprising an angular by the ordinary end 11 and a resilient shank l2, the former having a tip 13, of buckskin or other suitable material, designed to prevent the mutilation ot thekeys, and the latter-that is to say, the 9o. shank, 12being secured at its rear end to the 'under side of the board or carrier 9 adjacent to its hinged edge. The shank of each hammer is provided with a depending iinger 14E, -connected thereto by a clip l5 and provided 95 with an inclined edge 16, which facilitates the retraction of the hammer by theV musicsheet to be described.

The music-sheet (indicated by 17) isin the form of al thin iiexible metallic strip proroo vided with perforations 1S and endwise movable between suitable parallel guides 19, secured to the table 4. r1`his sheet or strip is disposed fiat upon the table 4,with the fingers 14 resting upon its upper surface and sustaining the hammers in their elevated or inoperative positions. Obviously, however, the presentation of the perforations 1S in the music-strip below the fingers 14 will permit said fingers to enter the perforations as the hammers are driven downwardly by the spring action of their shanks. This downward movement of the hammers effects the depression of the piano-keys in the order determined by the location of the perfor-ations in the music-sheet, and such depression is rendered effective to play the instrument by forming the table 4 with suitable recesses or sockets 20, disposed below the fingers 14 to receive the latter when they are released by the coincidence of the perforations 1S therewith.

In order to obtain the proper touch upon the keys of the instrument necessary to secure the expression which ordinarily distinguishes manual from mechanical playing, i provide what may be termed an expression member. or lever 21, fulcrumed upon a bracket 22, depending from the table 4 adjacent to the rear edge thereof. From one end of this lever projects an operating-handle 23, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) and to its opposite end is connected a vertically-disposed push-pin 24, passed through a suitable opening in the table and having its upper end disposed under the rear extremity of an arm 25, extending rearwardly from the hammer board or carrier 9.

The force with which the hammers strike the piano-keys depends, of course, upon the tension of their spring-shanks. It therefore follows that the touch may be regulated to secure the desired expression by increasing or diminishing the tension of the spring-hammers. Thisis effected by slightly depressing or elevating` the hammer carrier or board 9 through the medium of the expression-lever 21. By depressing the handle 23 the lever 21 will be swung to elevate the push-pin 24. The pin will raise the rear end of the arm 25, and as the latter is fastened to the board 9 said board will be depressed to increase the tension of the hammers. Upon the release of the expression-lever the spring-Shanks of the hammers will restore the hammer-carrier to its normal position and the tension of the hammers will be decreased.

the arm 25, extending rearwardly from the carrier, would prevent the latter from being swung back to the position shown, and for this reason said arm is pivotally secured to the board 9, as indicated at 26, so that it may be swung around parallel with the board, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, suitable stops 27 being provided to retain the arm in either of its positions.

We have now seen that the attachment comprehends a series ofinherently resilient hammers mounted on a common carrier equipped with means for regulating the tension of the hammers to secure the proper expression and also a series of fingers depending from the hammers and supported by a perforated music-sheet, which retains the hammers in their inactive positions except. when the perforations are brought opposite the fingers. It therefore remains to describe the means for operating the sheet to secure the automatic playing of the instrument. Beyond one end of the guides 19 is mounted in suitable bearings a delivering roll or drum 2S, from which the music-sheet 17 is unwound by the winding thereof upon a receiving-drum 29, having its shaft 30 mounted in suitable bearings located beyond the other end of the guides. The drum-shaft 30 is detachably connected, as by a clutch 31, with an operating-shaft 32, upon which is keyed a worm-wheel The periphery of this worm-wheel is extended through the table .4 (see Fig. 1) and is geared to a worm 34, mounted on a crank-shaft- 35, journaled in suitable bearings in the' end walls 5 of the casing or cabinet 2 and provided with balance-wheels 36, designed to secure the smooth uniform movement of the Operating parts.

The shaft 35, which is the power-shaft of the attachment, may be operated by any suitable means, either mechanical, electricai, or manual; but a simple form of driving mechanism is illustrated in the drawings and comprehends a pair of treadles 37 and 38, mounted upon a rock-shaft 39 and operatively connected to the shaft The rock-shaft is preferably disposed adjacent to the bottom of the cabinet and is journaled in the end Walls thereof, and the connection of the treadles with the power-shaft is preferably effected by a pair of pitmen 40, piveted at their lower ends to the treadles and connected at their upper ends to oppositely-disposed cranks 41 in the shaft 35.

As the feet of the operator are intended to be employed. for the propulsion of the driving mechanism in the illustrated form of the invention, I also contemplate the use of a pedaloperating lever 42, fulcrumed on a bracket 43, depending from the table 4, and having at one end a handle 44 and at its opposite end a connection with the loud pedal 45 ofthe piano through the medium of a link 4G. (See Fig. 1.)

The operation of the device is as follows:v

The cabinet 2 is moved up close to the front ICL lIO

of the piano, so that the hammer-tips'will he disposed directly over the piano-keys. The operator then operates the treadles 37 and 38 to rotate the power-shaft 35, from which motion is communicated to the operating-shaft 32 to operate the receiving-drum 29. The rotation of the receiving-drum will draw the music-sheet endwise across the table, and as the perforations 18 in said sheet are brought under the fingers 1I of the hammers said hammers will swing down to depress the piano-keys in the proper order. By reason of the inclined edges 16 of the fingers 14 continued movement of the sheet will force the hammers back to their elevated positions, and this operation will continue until the musicsheet is completely wound upon the receiving-drum.

If during the playing of the piece it is desired to secure a heavier touch, the expression-lever is operated to slightly depress the hammer-carrier 9, and thereby increase the tension of the spring-Shanks 12, or if considerable increase of sound is necessary the loud pedal of the piano may be depressed by means of the pedal-operating lever 112. If upon the completion of the piece it is desired to wind the music-sheet back upon the deliveringdrum 28, the receiving-drum is disconnected from the operating-shaft 32 by the shifting of the clutch 31 to permit this operation.

It is thought that from the foregoing the construction and operation of my piano attachment will be readily comprehended; but while the illustrated embodiment of the invention is believed at this time to be preferable I wish to be distinctly understood as reserving to myself the right to leffect such changes, modications, and variations ot' the illustrated structure as may be com prehended within the scope of the protection prayed.

Vhat I claim is- 1. In a piano attachment, the combination with a support, of a series of inherently resilient hammers, fingers extending from the hammers, and a movable music-sheet engaging the fingers to sustain the hammers in their inoperative positions and provided with perforations which, when brought opposite ,the fingers, will permit the hammers to swing down to operate the piano-keys.

2. In a piano attachment, the combination with a support, of a plurality of resilient hammers carried thereby, fingers depending directly from the hammers, a table provided with recesses opposite the fingers, and a perforated music-sheet movable over the table and engaging the fingers to control the depression of the keys.

3. In a piano attachment, the combination with a support, and a series of hammers secured at one end to the support and having their opposite ends disposed to engage the piano-keys, of means for urging the hammers toward the keys, fingers carried by and extending from the hammers intermediate of the ends thereof, and a perforated musicsheet engaging the fingers to control the operation of the hammers.

4. In a piano attachment, the combination With a support, and a series of hammers including resilient shanks terminally secured to the support, of lingers depending from the resilient shanks of the hammers, and a perforated music-sheet engaging the ngers.

In a piano attachment, the combination withatabie,ofahammer-carrierhinged above the table, a series of spring-hammers secured to the carrier, fingers depending from the hammers, a music-sheet. engaging the fingers to control the operation of the hammers, and an expression-lever operatively connected to the hammer-carrier to adjust the same.

6. In a piano attachment, the combination with a table, of a hinged hammer-carrier located above the table, an expression-lever mounted below the table, means operatively connecting the expression-lever with the hammer-carrier, a series of hammers mounted on the carrier, fingers extending from the hammers, and a perforated music-sheet engaging the' fingers. f y

7. In a piano attachment, the combination with a table, of 4a hinged hammer-carrier disposed thereover, a plurality of hammers secured to the under side of the hammer-carrier, means for controlling the operationof the hammers, an arm extending beyond the hinged edge of the carrier, and an expression-V lever operatively connected to the arm, said arm being movable to permit the carrier to be swung back for the purpose of gaining access to the hammers.

8. In a piano attachment, the combination with a table,of a hammer-carrier hinged above the table, a series of spring-ham mers secured to the carrier and having depending fingers,- a perforated music-sheet movable over the table and engaging the fingers to control the operation of the hammers, an arm extended rearwardly from the hammer-carrier, a vertically-movable push-pin extending through the table and engaging the arm, and an expression-lever connected to the push-pin to operate the same.

9. In a piano attachment, the combination with a table, of a hinged hammer-carrier mounted above the table, a series of springhammers extending from the carrier and provided with depending fingers, a perforated music-sheet engaging the fingers to control the operation of' the hammers, delivering and receiving drums for said sheet, foot-propelled driving mechanism for the receiving-drum, an expression-lever operatively connected with the hammer-carrier, a pedal-operating lever, and means for connecting said lever with a pedal of the piano. Y

10. In a piano attachment, the `combination with a table, parallel guides carried thereby, and delivering and receiving drums located ICO IIO

beyond the opposite ends of the guides, of a rier disposed above the table, and a series of hammers mounted on the carrier and provided with fingers engaging the music-sheet.

11. In a piano attachment, the combination with a support, and a series of spring-hammers, of depending iingers carried by the hammers, each of said fingers having an in- .clined side edge, a perforated music-sheet disposed to engage the fingers, and means for moving the music-sheet to cause the ends of the perforations ltherein to engage the inclined side edges of the fingers and thereby restore the hammers to their normal positions.

12. In a piano attachment, the combination with a support, and a movable perforated sheet imposed thereon, of movable hammers disposed directly above the sheet and supported at their rear ends, each hammer having a finger' depending therefrom at a point intermediate of its ends and arranged to pass through the perforations in the sheet.

13. In a piano attachment, the combination l with a support, of a reversible hammer-carrier, hammers secured to the under side of the hammer-carrier and designed to be made accessible by the reversal of the carrier, and means for controlling the operation of the hammers.

14. Ina piano attachment, the combination with a table, of a hammer-carrier arranged above the table, a series of spring-hammers secured to the carrier, ngers depending from the hammers, and a music-sheet engaging the fingers to control the operation of the hammers.

l5. In a piano attachment, the combination with a table, of ahammer-carrier disposed thereover, a plurality of hammers secured to the under side of the hammer-carrier, and a perforated music-sheet disposed bet-Ween the hammers and the table and controlling the operation of said hammers.

16. In a piano attachment, the combination with a table, of a hammer-carrier hinged above the table, a series of spring-hammers secured to the carrier and having depending fingers, a perforated musicsheet movable over the table and engaging the fingers `to control the operation of the hammers, and an expression-lever operatively connected to the hinged carrier.

17. In a piano attachment, the combination with a table, of a hinged hammer-carrier recounted above the table, a series of springhammers extending from the carrier and provided with depending fingers, a perforated music-sheet engaging the fingers to control the operation of the hammers, delivering and receiving drums for said sheet, and driving mechanism for the receiving-drum.

18. In a piano attachment, the combination with a movable perforated music-sheet, of spring-actuated hammers disposed directly above the sheet, and a swinging hammercarrier, to the under side of which 4the hammers are secured, said hammer-carrier being arranged to be moved downwardly over the hammers for the purpose described.

19. Inapiano attachment, the combination with a movable perforated music-sheet, of

i spring-actuated hammers disposed directly above the sheet, means provided on the hammers for engaging directly with the musicsheet, and a swinging hammer-carrier, to the under side of lwhich the hammers are secured, said ham mer-carrier being arranged to be moved downwardly over the hammers for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my -own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM WEBSTER SAUNDERS.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERs, GEORGE TATE. 

